Manchester United's very own generation game!

A new book traces the roots of Manchester United's famous youth policy and also tracks down their oldest surviving player.

MEMORY LANE: Jack White pictured front row first left with the MUJAC from the 1938/9 season and (left) Jack, now, aged 91

Sir Alex Ferguson wasn’t even born and Sir Matt Busby was a Liverpool player when the seeds of United’s famed youth system were sown in 1938.

Busby brought through the Babes in the 50s and Fergie nurtured the Class of ’92 as both cherished the belief that producing home-grown talent was the foundation for success.

Chairman James Gibson had the original brainstorm as the Reds coffers were so tight they had to provide most of their own players.

Manager Scott Duncan’s similar approach at Cowdenbeath attracted him to United and he was taken on board while talent-spotter Louis Rocca scoured local schools and leagues for potential stars.

The 1930s saw the plans implemented that generations later would produce the likes of Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, George Best, Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs.

The formation of the Manchester United Junior Athletic Club (MUJAC) in 1938 set the ball rolling.

The MUJACS played in the Chorlton Amateur League and became the team to be with as United’s scheme took shape.

In a new book ‘Sons of United’ author Steve Hobin and Tony Park have chronicled United’s Youth Team from those early years to a club that is now the record holder of ten prestigious FA Youth Cups.

It is a proud base from which United have grown into the most successful club side in the country.

In the book, published today, Hobin and Park have tracked down the only original MUJAC player still living.

Jack White was born a goal kick away from Old Trafford in Trafford Park and even in those austere days for the struggling Reds, the stadium was still a magnet for football-loving locals dreaming of a career in the game.

And the MUJACS gave White and his contemporaries their breakthrough.

Sadly, their dreams were shattered by the outbreak of World War Two but White still has fond memories of the MUJAC days.

“I was about eight years old when I started playing for my school. We played all the schools in the local Stretford and Gorse Hill areas,” the 91-year-old recalls in the book.

“It wasn’t a league as such, we took part in friendly games. When I was about 12 I turned out for the local church team St Cuthbert’s. Later I was picked for the Stretford Boys team.

“We couldn’t afford newspapers in those days so I knew nothing about other teams. We lived in Trafford Park, which is just down the road from Old Trafford, and I remember Tom Manley, Billy Bryant, George Roughton and Bill McKay.

“The players in that team were my idols as I was a keen United fan, but they were awful and nearly got relegated to the Third Division.”

Nonetheless, White dreamt of joining them on the hallowed turf and when the MUJACS were formed he was keen to be spotted.

“There were quite a few teachers involved from all over Manchester and they explained they were putting together a junior team and picking the best local players to play in a league,” he added.

“We all went for trials and then they selected the lads to come back. They narrowed it down to 20 boys and we were all more or less the same age, 16 years old.

“We went down to The Cliff once a week for training, but we had no money so the club paid our bus fares. The home games were played at The Cliff and it was a right trek to get there in those days. All the away games were in the Chorlton district so we didn’t have to go too far.

“We played in an open-age league and we found ourselves up against some good footballers who were much older lads. We got kicked to death in some matches.

“I was thrilled to be playing for Manchester United. I thought I was the bee’s knees. I was a defender but was moved up front and scored over 80 goals in the 1938-39 season and earned the nickname ‘Crasher’. I can’t remember why though.

“At the end of that season they got us back to Old Trafford and took a photo of the team and all the trophies. Not long after that war broke out and when Old Trafford was bombed all the trophies were destroyed.

“I went back for the next pre-season and played a couple of times for the ‘A’ team until war was declared in early September and they cancelled all the games.

“I was an apprentice engineer with my father at F. Hills and Sons in Trafford Park and as there was no more organised football I just continued with my apprenticeship until I got called up.

“I was called up in 1942 and saw active service as a mine sweeper in the North Sea and in the English Channel. I was also at the forefront of the Normandy D-Day invasion clearing mines for the landing.

“I played some great football with the MUJACS with some great players. They are my fondest memories. Harry Haslam went on to manage Luton and Johnny Aston (senior) had a great career with United. As for all the other players, if it wasn’t for the war we could have made it in the game.”

:: ‘Sons of United’ is available to purchase from the website: sonsofunited.com for £40 or as a download for £19.99.

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